Stewart Goes Back to Back in the Capitani Classic

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (August 7, 2016) – Shane Stewart bested a 62 car field to win the Kustom Concrete Pumping Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank on Sunday night at the Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. Stewart had to overcome three attempts to start the race and pressure mid-race from Kerry Madsen before pulling away over the final 9 laps for his second Capitani Classic victory in a row.

For Stewart the victory was a contrast to his visit with the World of Outlaws earlier in the season where he ended up with a couple of torn up race cars.

“I tried to clean out the trailer the last time I was in town,” Stewart remarked in victory lane. “I have to say thanks to Justin (Marks) and Kyle (Larson). We haven’t had the best of seasons, but they have stuck with us. They just give us everything we need to come out here and do our jobs. All of our sponsors Enos, GoPro, Cool Chassis, Rider Engines and my guys. They have worked wireless, way too many hours, to keep us up front on the World of Outlaws tour.”

Kerry Madsen and Stewart started on the front row for the 25-lap main event with Stewart getting the lead on the initial start before Paul McMahan spun between turns three and four. On the second attempt to star the feature Madsen led the field off turn two when Dave Blaney spun in the same spot McMahan had on the first attempt.

The third attempt to star the main saw Madsen lead with Stewart on his back bumper. Stewart slide past Madsen for the lead through turns one and two. Just as Madsen was able to cross Aaron Reutzel spun down the front stretch to bring out the caution flag, allowing Madsen to retain the lead.

After the restart Madsen and Stewart continued to race for the lead with Brian Brown and Joey Saldana racing for third. Stewart dove to the inside of Madsen in turn three and took the lead from Madsen on lap (3). Stewart continued to pull away until encountering lapped traffic on lap six. Behind them Brent Marks was on the move to challenge Saldana for fourth, taking the position on lap seven.

As traffic slowed Stewart Madsen closed the gap again with 10 laps to go. Then on lap 16 the red flag appeared when Bronson Maeschen and Danny Lasoski tangled and flipped in turn one. Both drivers were able to climb from their damaged cars under their own power.

Stewart pulled away around the top of the race track while Madsen found himself under siege from Brown for second. Brown slid by Madsen in turn two on lap 17, but Madsen was able to cross and take the position back down the backstretch. Behind them Brent Marks and Jason Solwold were locked in a race for fourth spot.

Brown continued to pressure Madsen for second working the inside of the track, but could not make the pass off turn two.

Up front though it was all Shane Stewart as he pulled away for the victory. Madsen held on for second with Brown, Solwold, and Marks rounding out the top five.

For Madsen he felt there was a missed opportunity to pass Stewart.

“I (got by Stewart once) and blew it,” said Madsen. “On a long run there we actually strayed with him and thought ‘well, we are still in this thing’. Then on that last short run he just drove away and left everybody.”